Join us for a fun-filled day of getting your speech and yourself Showcase-ready!

The day starts with a light continental breakfast.

4 Workshops—

1) speech writing

2) stage presence

3) vocal work

4) body movement

Each class is taught by talented artists dedicated to helping you go within your body and mind to authentically speak your truth.

(Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about lunch–you’ll get that and some snack breaks, too.)

By the end of the day, you’ll walk away confident and excited about what you’ve written, and ready to bring your swag and personality to the stage for Showcase Day.

Yes! Rising Voices is a two-part event including Orientation Day and Showcase Day.

Scholars are expected to attend both events. If you are only able to attend one of the events, you are still encouraged to join.

Orientation Day, Parents/Caregivers are encouraged to join for breakfast but are not required to accompany their scholar throughout the day.

Showcase Day, Parents/Caregivers are encouraged to attend and support their scholar, but are not required to accompany their scholar throughout the day.

Showcase Day is THE big day! It’s your chance to speak UP and speak OUT with your original speech that challenges people to listen and learn from YOU.

Here's what you can expect on Showcase Day:

Pre-Coaching: Practice your speech with a coach from the community before you present it.

Preliminaries: Present your own speech in front of a panel of judges, along with your friends and family. The highest scores from each group move on to the next round. Plus, one scholar from each group wins the "People's Choice Award" and gets a shot at joining the SWP Speakers Bureau after the competition!

Lunch: We’ll take a break between Prelims and Finals to enjoy lunch. There will be a DJ, live entertainment, and more – it’s a whole vibe.

Finals: Top-scoring contestants from each room present their speech one more time before a new panel of judges and a larger community audience. We’ll keep the energy flowing with music, live entertainment, and a “swag catwalk” – you don’t want to miss it!

Awards: Top three finalists in every category receive a medal and a CASH PRIZE up to $200! One scholar from every preliminary room receives a “People’s Choice” award and a chance to be selected to join the Speakers Bureau.

Speakers Bureau is a unique group of SWP scholars chosen to deliver their original speeches at prestigious community events outside of school time.

11:00 AM | Welcome & PreliminariesFamilies, friends, and community members, please arrive in plenty of time to get seated for our 11:00 AM Welcome Session, after which you’ll head to your scholar’s Preliminary Round.

Top scores in each room will advance to the next round–and one scholar from every room will receive the “People’s Choice Award” at the end of the competition!

1:00 PM | Community LuncheonWe’ll pause between Preliminaries and Finals to enjoy lunch together as one community. We’ll have a DJ, live entertainment, and more–it’s a whole vibe.

2:00 PM | Finals & Awards: Top-scoring contestants from each room will present their speech one more time before a new panel of judges and the full community audience. We’ll keep the energy flowing with music, live entertainment, and a “swag catwalk”–you don’t want to miss it!

The top three finalists in every category will then be awarded a medal and CASH PRIZE of up to $200! Plus, one scholar from every Preliminary room will receive a “People’s Choice” award and a commemorative plaque.

Scholars arrive at 9:00 AM for Registration, Breakfast, and Pre-Coaching. You’ll see them again in their Preliminary Round!

All past and present SWP scholars are welcome to participate in Rising Voices!

This includes all current SWP scholars in 4th grade, 5th grade, and Middle School at the schools listed below.

And we really love it when our SWP scholar alumni join the fun! Anyone who has ever participated in SWP can compete at Rising Voices all the way through your senior year of high school.

Note: In order for scholars to attend any Rising Voices event, parents/guardians must consent to allow photo and video recording of their scholar during the event.

Every scholar will present one (1) speech that must not exceed three (3) minutes.

It must be an original speech, written by YOU.

All speeches will be reviewed for originality upon submission at Orientation.

Your speech can be what you wrote during SWP class, or a new Passion Piece of your choice!

Please note:

—Costumes and props are not permitted.
—Your speech must be on cue cards, or completely memorized. Completely memorized is highly recommended. A paper copy of your speech MUST be the last result.
—All speeches over 3 minutes will be disqualified.

On Orientation Day, you won’t need to give your speech from start-to-finish.

You’ll work with a writing coach to improve your draft speech and get practice with vocal work (speaking UP and speaking OUT), body movement (feeling comfortable in front of an audience), and stage presence (how you start and finish, practicing with a microphone).

On Showcase Day, you’ll (1) rehearse your speech one-on-one in the morning with a speech coach, then (2) give your speech in the Preliminary Round to a panel of judges and an audience of friends and family.

If you advance to Finals, you’ll (3) deliver your speech once more after lunch to a new panel of judges and a larger audience. Then we’ll announce the winners and award the prizes!

Absolutely! The top three finalists in every category (4th, 5th, Middle School, Alumni) will receive medals and cash prizes:

Gold (1st place): $200
Silver (2nd): $125
Bronze (3rd): $75

Additional Awards:

Every Preliminary room, the audience will choose a “People’s Choice Winner,” announced after the Finals, and given a commemorative plaque.

Final Round: Selected scholars may be nominated for the following awards 1) Elijah Lewis, Young, Gifted, and Black (3 Black Boys will be selected) and/or 2) Speakers Bureau, a public speaking group where scholars deliver their speeches at prestigious community events.

NOTHING! Participating in Rising Voices is totally, completely, absolutely FREE.

For Orientation Day, you must bring two (2) copies (typed out double spaced) of your speech: one copy to submit, and one to practice and revise. Be ready to work on both writing and performance skills!

NOTE: You’re welcome to bring your speech on a laptop for your own use, but you must also bring one (1) copy (typed out, double spaced) of your speech for your writing coach.

For Showcase Day, you must bring your speech with you on note/cue cards or your cell phone, or have it memorized. Then be ready to perform and be celebrated!

For Orientation Day, please wear comfortable clothing to move around! Comfortable clothing can include sneakers, sweatshirts, jogging pants, and yoga pants.

For Showcase Day, wear what best represents you! Attire that represents your unique personality, SWAG, and/or culture is highly recommended. Suit, dress, skirt, dress shirt or jacket, bow tie, sneakers, slacks, etc.